STYLE: Inverted-V.STRENGTHS: Strong technical game, lightning-quick reflexes, anticipation and confidence. Very agressive. Plays breakaways very well. Very active and competent with stick. Good conditioning, good attitude. WEAKNESSES: Stick side low. Small size limits net coverage. Is now entering his post-prime, and when reflex goaltenders go, they go fast.

(Click on each section header to open (or to close) items in that section)

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"Last year will be a tough act to follow. As The Beezer goes, so go the Panthers. (ESPN Hockey 96, p. 77)

"John Vanbiesbrouck played better than ever the last month of the regular season and in the playoffs. Everyone on the club knew he was the main reason the team advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. After earning his second All-Star berth, Vanbiesbrouck struggled in January and February, getting pulled in six of 17 starts. Speculation swirled that the franchise's most popular player might be replaced by Mark Fitzpatrick. But Vanbiesbrouck rebounded to finish the year with a 26-20-7 record. He was outstanding throughout the playoffs, making the impossible save look routine." (The Sporting News Hockey Yearbook 1996-97, p. 58)

"The Panthers' main strength has come from their goaltending since acquiring Vanbiesbrouck and [G Mark] Fitzpatrick in the 1993 expansion draft. Vanbiesbrouck posted a 27-19-10 record last season with a career-best 2.29 goals-against average. His 91.9 save percentage was sixth best in the league." (The Hockey News 1997-98 Yearbook, p. 117)

"The Panthers are blessed to have not one, but two excellent netminders. Vanbiesbrouck is one of the league's best and backup Fitzpatrick had an equally strong season. It's the best one-two punch in the NHL." (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 109)

"Bobby Clarke was widely criticized for signing Vanbiesbrouck and not Curtis Joseph or Mike Richter on the free-agent market. The critics were proven right when he stumbled during the first round of the playoffs against Toronto. A good goals-against average, an average save percentage. A smart goalie with good reflexes. Gets victimized by giving up too many soft goals. He will be the No. 1 goaltender and will play a lot until one of the kids on the Phantoms is ready." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 115)

"A butterfly goalie, Vanbiesbrouck covers his angles well and is still quite quick. Nonetheless, the former Vezina Trophy winner isn't the netminder he once was. Entering his 19th season, Beezer", who reached the 800-game plateau last year, lost his No. 1 status to the brilliant Brian Boucher as the season wore on in Philly. Now with the Isles, "Beezer" will most likely see as many shots per game as he once did while with the expansion Panthers a few years back. A mature vet, he'll prove to be a steadying influence." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 94)

TRANSACTIONS:

Selected by New York Rangers in fourth round (fifth Rangers pick, 72nd overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 10, 1981.

Rated #7 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1994.

Played for Team United States in NHLPA 4-on-4 challenge, November 10-12, 1994.

Finished sixth in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1994-95.

Rated #7 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1995.

Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1996.

Finished eighth in voting for National Hockey League All-Star team, 1995-96.

Finished seventh in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1995-96.

Top Goaltender, National Hockey League All-Star Game Skill Competition, 1997.

Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1997.

Finished fourth in voting for National Hockey League All-Star team, 1996-97.

Finished seventh in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1996-97.

Became the fifteenth goaltender in National Hockey League history to record 300 career wins when he defeated the Islanders 6-2, December 27, 1997.

Goaltender for United States Olympic Team, February 1998.

Named National Hockey League Player of the Week after recording three consecutive shutouts, October 18-24, 1999.

FIRSTS:

First National Hockey League Game: at Colorado, December 5, 1981.

First National Hockey League Win: at Colorado, December 5, 1981.

First National Hockey League Shutout: vs. Vancouver, January 2, 1985.

INJURIES:

Fractured jaw, October 1987.

Severely lacerated wrist, slicing three tendons and suffering nerve damage, June 1988. Vanbiesbrouck was sitting on a glass coffee table playing with his new video camera when the glass gave way. His injury occured when he reached back to break the fall.

Underwent knee surgery, May 11, 1990.

Suffered lower back spasms; missed eleven games, February 25, 1992.

Pulled groin; missed four games, November 2, 1992.

Lacerated hand; missed seven games, February 1, 1994.

Strained back; missed one game, November 27, 2000.

NHL PENALTY SHOTS:

DATE

SHOOTER

GOAL?

NOTES

02/17/1987

Petr Klima

N

03/27/1988

Pet Verbeek

Y

11/11/1988

Ray Bourque

N

03/25/1990

Keith Acton

Y

02/17/1992

Pavel Bure

N

05/11/1992

Jaromir Jagr

Y

postseason

04/11/1997

Mario Lemieux

Y

10/01/1997

Trent Klatt

N

02/07/1998

Derek King

Y

04/22/1999

Mats Sundin

N

postseason

12/01/2000

Patrik Elias

N

MISCELLANEOUS:

On January 11, 1992, John was ejected from the Rangers' 7-2 victory in Quebec for butt-ending an opponent.

DID YOU KNOW?

John claims to be a big fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball team.

John is the only player in the history of the National Hockey League with all five vowels (a,e,i,o,u) in his surname.

John was a member of the 1983-84 Tulsa Oilers team that was evicted from their home rink in February of 1984. The Oilers played the final two months of the season on the road. When the team returned to Tulsa, they skated in a small suburban rink, but the arena's management forbade them to use pucks, so after a practice of skating drills, coach Tom Webster would take John and Ron Scott out into the parking lot and shoot tennis balls at them to keep their reflexes sharp. Despite all of their troubles, the Oilers managed to win the 1984 Central Hockey League championship.

On February 17, 1985, John was ejected from the Rangers/Islanders game for fighting with counterpart Kelly Hrudey. While Clark Gillies and Steve Richmond were fighting, Vanbiesbrouck hit Islander forward Duane Sutter with a blind punch, prompting Hrudey to skate down and confront Vanbiesbrouck.

Game logs have been compiled using the best information that I can find; for a detailed list of known concerns, please click here. I am always looking for assistance in making these more accurate, and welcome your help. For the 1983-84 season and prior, one of my key sources was the Hockey Summary Project, a tremendous resource and one of the best data collections on the Internet. In return, I have attempted to make these data better where possible.